Head Start and Early Head Start are the country’s largest early childhood education programs, providing nearly one million children each year with school readiness and socialization skills. Head Start emphasizes the individual needs of each child and celebrates the unique ethnic and cultural characteristics of all.

Core attributes of the Head Start program include:

Developmentally appropriate early childhood education curriculum

Services for infants and toddlers through Early Head Start

Services for children with special needs

Family health and support services, fostering parent education and involvement